Brackish Groundwater Desalination in Texas J. Kevin Ward

Texas Water Development Board To provide leadership, planning, financial assistance, information, and education for the conservation and responsible development of water for Texas Texas Water Development Board To provide leadership, planning, financial assistance, information, and education for the conservation and responsible development of water for Texas

2011 Regional Water Plans

Growth of desalination capacity in Texas

Current desalination capacity in Texas Facilities ≥ 25,000 gallons per day Existing facilities 44 facilities 120 mgd Existing facilities 44 facilities 120 mgd

Current desalination capacity in Texas Facilities ≥ 25,000 gallons per day Surface water 12 facilities 50 mgd Brackish groundwater 32 facilities 70 mgd Surface water 12 facilities 50 mgd Brackish groundwater 32 facilities 70 mgd Electrodialysis Reversal 2 facilities 11.1 mgd Reverse osmosis 42 facilities mgd Electrodialysis Reversal 2 facilities 11.1 mgd Reverse osmosis 42 facilities mgd

Key challenges to brackish groundwater desalination in Texas Courtesy: North Alamo WSC Concentrate Energy Cost Permitting and regulations Source characterization Concentrate Energy Cost Permitting and regulations Source characterization

TWDB’s Brackish Groundwater Desalination Program Purpose  Identify challenges to implementing brackish groundwater desalination  develop and demonstrate practical solutions Funding  ~$1,800,000 specific for brackish demonstration projects  ~$800,000 for brackish groundwater characterization  Other funds: Research & Planning Program Courtesy: Southmost Regional WSC

Projects funded Funded organizationsScopes of projects (examples) Operational Challenges City of Kenedy and San Antonio River Authority Economics of replacing aging technology with modern equipment Texas Tech UniversityOperational efficiency of small-scale desalination systems Concentrate Management San Antonio Water System El Paso Water Utilities Increase recovery and concentrate volume reduction by mechanical means University of Texas at AustinIncrease recovery and concentrate volume reduction by chemical means Bureau of Economic Geology Self-sealing mechanisms of evaporation ponds Energy Management Affordable Desalination Collaboration Assessing and optimizing energy management in reverse osmosis desalination of brackish sources

Projects funded Funded organizationsScopes of projects (examples) Technology and Outreach North Cameron Regional WSCDesalination Guidance Manual Bureau of Economic GeologyTexas Desalination Database Source Characterization City of San AngeloSource Characterization Guidance City of SeminoleDockum aquifer data Post-Treatment Carollo Engineers Study of calcite contactor beds and design guidance Regulations and Permitting CDM Test of regulations for use of Class II well for concentrate disposal North Alamo WSC Assessment of fiberglass casing for brackish wells

Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System  Characterize the brackish waters in much greater detail (to 10,000 mg/L total dissolved solids)  Design database and GIS to process this new information  Collect comprehensive well information statewide  Research and develop methods of data analysis  Document results in reports  Provide access to raw and processed information  Build replicable numerical groundwater flow models to estimate aquifer productivity  Develop parameter-screening tool to help communities assess the viability of brackish groundwater desalination supplies  Present study results nationwide

Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System  Technical Review Panel to provide technical guidance  Pecos Valley Aquifer chosen as pilot study area  Three contracts awarded for data collection and model support Shallow Deep Pecos Valley Aquifer, Depth to Bottom

Awarded contracts (BRACS) Digital Bibliography Texas Geology INTERA Variable Density Modeling INTERA Geophysical Log Collection Bureau of Economic Geology

Future Work  Characterize the brackish portions of all aquifers in Texas  Integrate the BRACS database with the future groundwater database design  Provide Web access to BRACS data  Provide detailed methodology on BRACS characterization in written reports  Provide more accurate estimates of the brackish resource in Texas

TWDB and Bureau of Reclamation Collaboration  Technical assistance  Review of technical reports  Partnering in seminars and workshops  Funding  Concentrate management (Please Pass the Salt)  Collaboration  Variable salinity desalination process

Water Science and Conservation Innovative Water Technologies Innovative Water Technologies To research, develop, and disseminate information to advance the development of innovative water management strategies in Texas Jorge Arroyo Sanjeev Kalaswad Saqib Shirazi Matthew Wise John Meyer Jorge Arroyo Sanjeev Kalaswad Saqib Shirazi Matthew Wise John Meyer